Bicycle



2 SheeS-Sheet 1.

(VNO Model.) Y

S. H. KIMBALL. BICYCLE.

No. 487,018. Patented Nov.-29, 1892.

@04de QM,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

STEPHEN H. KIMBALL, OF EVERETT, MASSACHUSETTS.

BICYCLE..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 1-atent No. 487,018, datedNovember 29, 1892.

Application led March l2, 1892. Serial No. 424,682. (No model.)

State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bicycles adapted to be used by ladies; and ithas for its object t provide certain improvements in so-calleddrop-frame or ladies bicycles, whereby -wood may be employed as theprincipal material for said frame.

To this end the invention consists in the improvements which I will nowproceed to describe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, Figurel represents a side elevation of a bicycle provided with myimprovements. Fig. 2 represents a side View of a portion of the frame ofthe machine, showing a modification of the construction shown in Fig. l.Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of a portion of the frame, thecrank-shaft and bearings for the same attached to said frame. Fig. 4represents a top view of the frame, all other parts being removed.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all thefigures.

In carrying out my invention I construct the drop-frame of a bicyclemainly of wood, said frame comprising the backbone a, which is providedat its front end with the head b, in which is journaled thefork-standard c, the extensions a a of said backbone, saidextensions'being divided so as to receive the rear Wheel e between them,the rear ends of the extensions receiving the axle of the rear wheel,and the arched seat-supports f f, which are attached at their rear endsto the rear ends of the extensions a a and at their foward ends to thedepressed portion of the backbone a. It will be seen that the backboneis curved downwardly from its forward end, and that the seat-supportingpieces f spring from the lowest portion of the backbone, so that asuitable space is formed above the crank-shaft g for the reception andplay of the skirts of the rider. The backbone is preferably made of twopieces bolted together, the extensions a a being the ends of said piecesseparated bya block a5 or otherwise, as Shown in Fig. 4, to receive therear wheel. If

desired, however, the backbone may be made in a single piece splitlengthwise at 'its rear end to form the extensions a a. Theseatsnpporting pieces f fare provided at their higher portions with abracket f', secured to the pieces f in any suitable way, said brackethaving an inclined orifice, through which passes a brace t', thelowerend of which is affixed to the backbone a by means of nuts fr" i2 andits upper end to the bracket f by means of nuts i3 124. Said brace ispreferably a rod or tube of metal, screw-threaded at its ends forengagement with the nuts. The nuts t 2 are arranged at opposite sides ofthe backbone;

as shown in Fig. 3, while the nuts 3 114 are arranged on opposite sidesof the bracket f as shown in Fig. 1. Hence the brace ris rigidly andiirmly attached at its ends to the backbone and seat-supporting frame.The upper end of the brace@` projects above the bracket f and serves asa guide or support for a seatspring j, said spring bearing at its lowerend on a nut i5, engaged with the brace t' above the nut t3. The upperend of the spring j bears on the lower end of a tubular boss orprojection la', attached to and projecting downwardly from the seat lc.The seat is thus adapted to rise and fall, the tubular projectionlcbeing of such depth as to give it the necessary play on the upper end ofthe brace t'.

m represen ts a guide-rod affixed to the seat la and projectingdownwardly therefrom par- -allel with the brace i, said rod passingthrough a guiding-orifice in the forward portionof the bracket f andpreventing the seat from turning laterally. A seat-supporting spring maybe placed on this rod.

The crank-shaft gis journaled in ears 'n n, formed on a plate n',attached to the under side of the backbone a. Said plate is. preferablyprovided with a slot n2 to receive attaching-bolts to secure the plate nto the backbone in case it is desirable to adjust said plate to vary thetension of the chain o. The plate n is preferably provided with ribs n3n3, projecting downwardly from its lower side in position to bear uponthe nut i2, said ribs affording a better bearing for said nut than wouldbe afforded by the under side of the plate fn.

The head l), in which the fork-standard c is journaled, is. bolted tothe forward end of the IOO backbone. Said head is provided at its lowerportion with an ear or arm b', extending fora considerable distancealong the under side of the backbone and secured thereto by bolts b2. Toprevent the backbone from being twisted by the torsional strain exertedupon it, I provide a brace connecting the backbone with the upperportion of the head b. Said brace is shown in Fig. 1 as a metal rod orstrap s, bolted to the backbone -and extended upwardly therefrom to abearing formed for it at the upper end of the -head b,said head .be-

ing preferably provided with an ear b4 con` stituting an extension ofthe seat or surface on which the brace s bears, said brace beingattached to said ear by one or more bolts b5.

The brace s is connected to the backbone at .a pointin the rear of thehead by a bolt s',

in Fig. 1, a suitable number of bolts, screws,y or rivets s2-beingemployed to connect ,the brace with the backbone.

In Fig. 2 I show the brace as composed of awooden strip a2, which ispreferably yof about? the fsalne size as the portion of the backbone fthat is lconnected to the lowerend of the head l 1J, said brace a2 beingbolted to the fear b4 on the head, which ear is shown as considerablylonger 'than that show-n in Fig. l. It will be; observed that the braceconnecting the forward portion of thecbackbone with theupper port-ion ofthe head, 'the backbone-being connected with the lower portion of thehead, makes 'the construction extremely strong and durable at thispoint, and prevents any lia-4 bility of wrenching the backbone from itsconnection with the head by torsional strain.

I-claimn l. In a bicycle, 'the drop-frame composed of the backbonecurved downwardly from its forward end and provided with the separatedextensions at opposite'sides of the rear wheel and the archedseat-supporting pieces at' tached-at their rear ends totherear portionsof said extensions and at theirfront ends to the lower portion of thebackbone, as set forth.

2. In a drop-frame for bicycles, the combination of the backbone curveddownwardly from its upper end and provided with the separated rearextensions, the arched seatsupporting pieces, and the brace attached tothe upper portions of the arched pieces and to the lower portion of thebackbone, as set forth.

3. In a drop-frame for bicycles, the combination of the backbone curveddownwardly from its upper. end and provided with the separated rearextensions, the arched seatsu-pporting pieces having a connecting blockor bracket at their upper portions, the brace attached at its .lower endtothe .backbon-efand at its upper portion te said bracket, the-saidbrace -extendingabeve fthebracket andV being provided witha nut 015.,thefseat .having'ga tubular projection receiving the upper end-of thebrace, an-d the spring interposed between .said projection and'nut.

4. In a=dropfraine1bicycle, the backbone composedof one or moreI'st-ripsof Woodand havi-nga strip of metal attached toits upper side, the.upperportion of said .stripfbeingextended or bent upwardly from theWood and constituting a brace, cembinedwith ther-head attached at itslower portion to theupper-end of the backbone and at its upper-.portionyto said brace, asset forth.

5. In a-drop-frame bicycle,the combination of the head havingtherearwardly-projecting ears at its lowerand upper portions, thebackboneattached to the lower ear, andthe brace attached to the backboneand to kthe upper ear, as set forth.

